Waiting for Wieters

Gregg Zaun returned to the team that drafted him in 1989, finalizing a $2 million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

The 37-year-old Zaun is expected to replace Ramon Hernandez as the starting catcher, at least until the team’s top prospect, Matt Wieters, is ready.

Zaun has 14 years of experience to draw upon in working with a young pitching staff and newcomer Koji Uehara of Japan. Zaun has a .251 batting average in 1,114 games with Baltimore, Florida, Texas, Kansas City, Houston, Colorado and Toronto.

With his guaranteed money this year and his buyout for 2010, that means that, no matter what, the Orioles have to pay Zaun $2 million. Between that obligation and what is likely a strong desire to keep Wieters from achieving super two status, you can probably expect to see Zaun starting through the All-Star break or later.

Is that as satisfying as seeing the best prospect in baseball? Nah, but hey, Zaun is Rick Dempsey’s nephew, and that has to count for something in Charm City, right?

I think they’re doing the right thing with Wieters. They aren’t going to contend this year but have some promising talent in the system so should be aiming for beyond 2010. The longer they have control of Wieters, the better for them (if he’s even half as good as everyone projects). It really will be nice to see baseball resurrected in Baltimore.

O’s fans are OK with this. This organization has a bad habit of rushing prospects and stunting their growth. Every now and then it works out (Nick Markakis) but usually it’s a disaster (Daniel Cabrera, Hayden Penn).

Zaun knows the deal; he’s just keeping the seat warm for Wieters and he seems OK with it. And Zaun is a good bet to post a better OPS than Ramon Hernandez did last season.